Method, system and computer program for monetizing digital or virtual currency

Abstract

Method for a first person to receive a wanted item purchased by a second person in exchange for virtual currency includes generating an order for a wanted item by the first person, assigning an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order, displaying an indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for order fulfillment, and enabling the second person to view the indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for order fulfillment and indicate a desire to fulfill the order. The second person can fulfill the order and pay real money for each item to a third party, and the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order is forwarded (e.g., released from an escrow account) to the second person upon or after shipping confirmation of the item.

1 . A method for a first person to receive a wanted item purchased by a second person in exchange for virtual currency, comprising:
 generating, using a first computing device, an order for at least one wanted item by the first person;   assigning an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order for the first person;   displaying on a second computing device, an indication of the assigned amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order for the first person;   enabling, using a user interface of the second computing device, the second person to view the indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order for the first person and indicate a desire to fulfill the order;   enabling, using the second computing device, the second person to fulfill the order and pay real money for each item in the order to a third party; and   forwarding the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order to the second person upon or after shipping confirmation of each item in the order to the first person.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of generating, using the first computing device, the order for at least one wanted item by the first person includes incorporating a link to a webpage identifying the at least one wanted item. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of assigning the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order for the first person comprises holding the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order in escrow. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising releasing the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after shipping confirmation of each item in the order to the first person. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising releasing the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after third party confirmation of delivery of each item in the order to the first person. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enabling, using a user interface of the first computing device, the first person to indicate the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order based on an exchange rate of the real money value of the order and the virtual currency. 
     
     
         8 . A method for one person to receive a wanted item purchased by another person in exchange for virtual currency, comprising:
 generating, using computing devices, a plurality of orders each for at least one wanted item by a person;   assigning an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each of the orders;   displaying, on computing devices, a list of orders and an indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each order;   enabling, using a user interface of the computing devices on which the list of orders is displayed, entry of an indication by another person to fulfill a selected one of the orders and authorize payment of real money for each item in the selected order to a third party; and   forwarding the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the selected order to the another person upon or after shipping confirmation of each item in the selected order.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of generating the orders includes incorporating a link to a webpage identifying the at least one wanted item. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of assigning an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each of the orders comprises holding the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each order in escrow. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising releasing the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after shipping confirmation of each item in the selected order. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising releasing the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after third party confirmation of delivery of each item in the selected order. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the step of generating the plurality of orders includes receiving a user-provided indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising determining the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order based on an exchange rate of the real money value of the order and the virtual currency. 
     
     
         15 . A computer program embodied in non-transitory computer-readable medium, and that when executed by a processor, is configured to:
 enable, using a first computing device, generation of an order by an order generator for at least one wanted item and an associated indication of an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order; then   receive the amount of virtual currency from the order generator;   direct display on a second computing device of the indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order;   enable, using a user interface of the second computing device, entry of an indication of a desire to fulfill the order and authorization of payment of real money for each item in the order to a third party; and   forward the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order to the payment authorizer upon or after shipping confirmation of each item in the order.   
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program is further configured to allow for incorporation of a link to a webpage identifying the at least one wanted item in the order. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program of  claim 15 , wherein the computer program is further configured to maintain an escrow account for each person using the computer program and hold the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order in escrow after the indication of the desire to fulfill the order is entered. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program of  claim 17 , wherein the computer program is further configured to release the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after shipping confirmation of each item in the order. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program of  claim 17 , wherein the computer program is further configured to release the amount of virtual currency from escrow only after third party confirmation of delivery of each item in the order. 
     
     
         20 . A computer program embodied in non-transitory computer-readable medium, and that when executed by a processor, is configured to:
 enable a plurality of orders to be generated, each for at least one wanted item and including an indication an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the order; then   receive an amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each of the orders;   display, on computing devices, a list of orders and the indication of the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of each order;   enable, using a user interface of the computing devices on which the list of orders is displayed, entry of an indication to fulfill a selected one of the orders and authorize payment of real money for each item in the selected order to a third party; and   forward the amount of virtual currency to be provided in exchange for fulfillment of the selected order upon or after shipping confirmation of each item in the selected order.